Juncker: The Final Steps Towards Becoming the Next President of the European Commission

Jean-Claude Juncker will meet the European Parliament's political groups on 8 and 9 July, ahead of the vote on his candidacy on 15 July. Before the vote, Juncker will give a statement in the chamber, followed by a debate. The former prime minister of Luxembourg will need a simple majority of at least 376 MEPs in order to get the Commission's top job.

Jean-Claude Juncker will meet the European Parliament's political groups on 8 and 9 July, ahead of the vote on his candidacy on 15 July. Before the vote, Juncker will give a statement in the chamber, followed by a debate. The former prime minister of Luxembourg will need a simple majority of at least 376 MEPs in order to get the Commission's top job.

The Parliament has already played a key part in transforming the appointment of the next Commission president. Under the Lisbon Treaty the results of the European elections should be taken into account when selecting someone for the Commission's top post. Most of the political groups in the Parliament used this to put forward their candidate for the job. These candidates campaigned throughout Europe and shared their ideas for improving the EU.

Juncker as the candidate of the political party that garnered the most votes during the European elections in May - the EPP - received the go-ahead from other European political parties to try to find a majority to support his candidacy in the European Parliament.

MEPs will also be involved in scrutinising prospective new commissioners. Member states will propose candidates in consultation with the new Commission president. These commissioners-designate will then be subjected to hearings in the Parliament, after which MEPs must approve the new Commission as a whole before it can begin work.

Juncker is the longest-serving head of government of any EU country, having served as prime minister of Luxembourg from 1995 to 2013. He was also the first permanent president of the Eurogroup, composed of the euro zone's finance ministers, from 2005-2013.